Term | Definition |
Nuclear fusion | A reaction in which nuclei combine to form more massive nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy. |
Nuclear fission | A reaction in which a massive nucleus splits into smaller nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy. |
Attractive Force | The force by which one object attracts another. |
Battery | Two or more connected cells that produce a direct current by converting chemical energy to electrical energy. |
Conductor | A substance or medium that conducts heat, light, sound, or especially an electric charge. |
Current | The rate at which “charge” flows past a point on a circuit. |
Electrical charge | The amount of unbalanced electricity in a body (either positive or negative) and seen/observed as an excess or deficiency of electrons. |
Electrical force | The force exerted by stationary objects bearing electric charge on other stationary objects bearing electric charge. |
Electromagnet | A magnet consisting essentially of a coil of insulated wire wrapped around a soft iron core that is magnetized only when current flows through the wire. |
Electron | A particle with a negative electrical charge, located outside of the nucleus in the electron cloud of an atom. |
Insulator | A material that insulates, especially a non-conductor of sound, heat, or electricity. |
Magnet | A body that can attract certain substances, such as iron or steel, as a result of a magnetic field. |
Magnetic force | A force that exists between two electrically charged moving particles. |
Parallel circuit | A closed circuit in which the current divides into two or more paths before recombining to complete the circuit. |
Proton | A particle with a positive electrical charge, forming part of the nucleus of an atom. |
Repulsive force | The force by which bodies repel one another. |
Resistor | A device used to control current in an electric circuit by providing resistance. |
Series circuit | An electric circuit connected so that current passes through each circuit element in turn without branching. |
Switch | A device used to break or open an electric circuit or to divert current from one conductor to another. |
Voltage | A measure of the difference in electric potential between two points in space, a material, or an electrical circuit, expressed in volts |
Energy conversion | The process of changing one form of energy into another. |
Fossil fuels | A hydrocarbon deposit, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas, derived from living matter of a previous geologic time and used for fuel. |
Geothermal energy | Energy derived from the heat in the interior of the Earth. |
Hydropower | Energy harnessed from water. |
Nuclear energy | The energy released by a nuclear reaction, especially by fission or fusion. |
Radiant energy | Energy that is emitted in the form of particles or electromagnetic radiation. |
Wind energy | Energy harnessed from wind. |